David Freeze

By David Freeze

Catching up and details for a busy fall!

   I recounted all the duties of a good race director last week, and there are many. What I failed to mention is another list of things that must get done following the actual race. Here are most of those things but probably not all.

    Final payments from sponsors must be collected, and bills for shirts, awards, any food bought for refreshments and additional things like the sound system, photographer and porta johns must be paid. All the volunteers, including fire and police, will get shirts as do most of the sponsors. Results and photos have to be posted, and sometimes a finish line video. Lots of thank you notes must be written.

    And as soon as all of that is done, initial thoughts of date, location and race headquarters need to be arranged and booked for next year. What worked and what didn’t will make for immediate discussion.

    Notable last week was the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run in Landis. 20-year-old James Anderson from Landis won the 5K race in 17:56. Anderson is the regular winner of this race, but most notable was the effort of Grace McDaniel who ran 20:25 and topped the women. Her time is fantastic but is especially notable since she is an 8^th grader at China Grove Middle. Grace is 13, making her one of the youngest females to ever run this fast on an accurately measured course in Rowan County.  The race itself drew over 200 participants for the first time in an effort to fund Bible teachers for South Rowan area schools. Donations can still be made by calling race director Lynn Furr at 704-724-2819.

   This month’s racing will be completed with the Sisters in the Fight 5K at Overton Elementary School on September 26^th. The course uses a portion of Salisbury Greenway and is open to all ages and abilities. The mission of Sisters in the Fight is to support women by educating them on early detection and offering essential resources for those diagnosed with breast cancer, heart disease, and who are facing domestic violence. We offer help with transportation, household tasks, meals, childcare, and medical costs, support groups for women and children affected by trauma, financial aid for children experiencing trauma, life coaching for overall well-being and social groups for healing and support. All proceeds from the race will help us expand our services and support that impact the lives of women, children, and families in need, as well as help promote community awareness.

      On October 3^rd, we have the new Faith in Motion Liberty 5K and Fun Run near Morgan School. The next weekend, we cross the county to go west to Back Creek Presbyterian Church for the Harvest Run 5K and Fun Run, with pancakes afterwards. Then. October 17^th is the only “Do the Double” day of the year with two races, one in the morning and another in the afternoon. The Run to the River 5K and Fun starts the day in Spencer and Fall Crawl 5K and Fun Run is that afternoon near Landis.

       Next up is the Saturday/Sunday race duo that have been with us a long time. First on Saturday is the St. Matthews 5K and Fun Run at St. Matthews Church, then the scene shifts to Catawba College for the oldest of any of these races, the Spooky Sprint 5K and Fun Run.

     Some of the best energy and pure racing happens at the local middle school cross country meets. Just ahead are several meets for Erwin Middle School at the East Rowan YMCA on September 24^th, October 1^st and October 6^th. Salisbury Academy has their home meet, a big one, on Tuesday, September 22nd       China Grove Middle School has one more meet remaining on October 1^st. All of these meets welcome spectators and the coming cool weather with less humidity will enhance performances.

      Look for more details on all of these races and the results at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Catching up and details for a busy fall!

By David Freeze

What does a race director do and how to be a good one?

  In Rowan County, we have 32 races scheduled for this year and add to that a bunch of middle school and high school cross country races too. All of these must have someone who organizes them and is the final decision maker. I spent the late morning on Wednesday measuring and marking the 5K course for Saturday’s Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run, all held to help fund the South Rowan area Bible teachers. Lynn Furr is one of those good race directors, and she went along to make sure the course was right.

    Race directors have a long list of things to do, in fact SRR shares a couple lists of to- do guidelines. Race planning usually starts 4-5 months ahead of the event. The first things done are to name the race, set a date, secure a course and start finding major sponsors. Hopefully the aspiring race director has plenty of help in the first year, especially when all of these things are new. If the race has been held before, most of these major tasks are ready to go, especially if the race met participant and proceed expectations during the previous year.

     Then comes the second round of tasks which include getting the basic race information out by posting to runsignup.com, the major race registration vehicle currently available. As the second tier of sponsors are secured, they are added on all registration websites and social media. At this point, social media becomes a big place to share what is unique about the event. Shirt colors are chosen, and shirt size amounts are ordered. Awards are ordered and made. A printer for the shirts is secured and will wait for artwork and graphics which are also underway at this time. Race logo and date go on the front, and sponsors on the back, but the shirt is not printed usually until about a week before the race date.

    Then it is time to start on the third tier of to-do’s. Tentative plans then become real with police and fire departments and a slew of volunteers who work the course on race day. At that point, volunteers to work registration, finish line, pick up refreshments and other day of event duties are secured and assigned. Porta johns arrive. Race bibs are prepared the night before, shirts are divided by size and last-minute contacts with police or fire take place, and race day is ready to go.

    On race day, registration starts things rolling early while the course is set up. Participants and volunteers arrive and action ramps up. Good race directors either manage or delegate pre-race activities like the National Anthem and prayer. The race absolutely must start on time after participant instructions. When it does, the scene shifts to the finish line. Runners and then the walkers finish, awards and door prizes are given way. Then breaking down and packing up completes the event.

     A good race director doesn’t do all these things, but he or she makes sure they get done. It is truly a load of work that for most races lasts about four months, building in intensity to race day. In fact, most good race directors celebrate with a good afternoon nap.

     A successful race director is personable and people like working for and with them. This person can handle multiple talks and incoming details that make each day faster until race day is done. They manage time well too and prioritize with the best. And finally, they take the time to improve their practices, often by learning from other races and experienced race directors,

     Speaking of race directors, Tab McAllister manages the Sisters in the Fight 5K and Fun Run, set for 8:45am at Overton Elementary School on September 26^th. McAllister says, “All 5K proceeds will directly impact local families in crisis.  Every step you take, and every dollar raised will help us provide food, clothing, household essentials, emergency support, and help supplement the cost of medication for those battling cancer and heart disease. Together, we can ensure that no woman or child faces their vulnerable moments alone.  Every step makes a difference!”

     SRR’s Beginning Runners Class is off to a great start, and participants can still join on Tuesday. Look for these and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: What does a race director do and how to be a good one?

By David Freeze

Watches for Cross Country Runners and More!

   The Salisbury Rowan Runners have been timing middle school meets in Rowan County for quite a while. And I have been around cross country meets for most of my adult life. Long called the purest of American sports, cross country draws kids who are competitive, willing to physically hurt in their training and often are still searching for their niche in sports. And they are usually good students. Some are already runners, but most are new to it as they begin running in middle school. And best-case scenario, they will remain runners for life.

    This year more than I ever remember, there has been talk about letting kids wear watches while they race. What is the benefit and why does it matter? Sports watches have progressed to the point where the best can do many things, but the most important of these things should be to tabulate the elapsed time, distance and pace. In its most basic form, runners don’t need watches to run and do their best, they just put the pedal down and go as hard as they can for the distance of the race. Watches can enhance that by showing the exact pace, how far you’ve been, which lets the runner also know how much farther he/she has to race. I suspect that most young runners these days get exposed to these time, distance and pace smart watches. They are addicting because of the available data including heart rate and much more.

     Erwin and China Grove Middle Schools have good teams and compete with several Davie and Iredell County schools. First meets have been completed with some of the kids wearing time, pace and distance smart watches. Coaches and athletic directors sought a ruling, watches or not?

    That ruling came by way of the president of the Tri-County Conference through National Federation of State High School Associations Track and Field/Cross Country Rules. It is specific and says that yes, a runner can wear a watch but using it for certain things is prohibited. Here is the ruling statement.

    .  The issue is with SMART Watches.  The NFHS restricts the use of electronic devices during competition under Rules 3-2-8a and 4-6-5d.  

• No Communication: An athlete cannot use a smartwatch to receive live text messages, calls, or electronic coaching notes during a race or trial. 
• No Unfair Assistance: A watch cannot be used to receive outside communication or data that gives the athlete an unfair competitive advantage or active pacing assistance from someone outside the race.
• Passive Data Collection: Most official interpretations allow smartwatches (like an Apple watch or Garmin) if they are used passively to collect post-race data (such as heart rate or split times). The runner must not actively use communication features or receive pacing instructions through it during the event.

   It would be very difficult for a meet official to check every smartwatch screen to ensure GPS, pacing alerts, or cell data is turned off.  After consulting with the timing companies that are used in our conference, they have indicated that no runner may wear a Smart Watch while participating in a Tri-County Conference Cross Country race.  The meet director will check all runners at the start line to be sure this rule is followed.  This rule ensures that no individual has an unfair advantage.  Runners may wear a regular (old timey style) watch.

    With the ruling, we will check each runner at the start line and any runners wearing a smart watch will be disqualified. Those wearing an old-time watch or those with a stopwatch feature will be OK. I doubt that this ruling will be the end-all for questions, especially in an era of rocker-panel shoes that definitely provide an advantage to those runners able to afford them. In my opinion, that is a far bigger advantage than using a smart watch in a race. Cross country is still a wonderful sport, but technology will keep trying to overcome the purity of basic running.

     Our Beginning Running Class starts Tuesday, September 8.

    The Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run is just ahead on September 12^th in Landis. The course is fast and this race helps provide funding for Bible teachers in the South Rowan area schools. Walkers are welcome!

    Look for more on the two events and other upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Watches for cross country runners and more!

By David Freeze

Fall Beginning Runners Class, Some Humor and Reflection

  Summer has nearly flown by again, faster and faster as I get older. We had another wonderful dragonboat competition last week and our August Prediction Run is this Saturday morning, and then we are looking at September. With September comes our 21^st Annual Fall Beginning Runners Class, this year starting on September 8^th at the Salisbury Police Department, continuing our long-term relationship with the PD as they continue to host these classes.

     Fall is the best time to take these classes because the training schedule will work its way through longer runs as the weather cools and humidity improves.  Fall classes are usually smaller in number of participants, but that means more individual coaching time and typically a higher finisher percentage. Please think about joining us if you have wanted to be a runner and haven’t yet been able to make it happen. Or maybe you left running behind years ago and want to find it again.

     Each Tuesday night, we will have a classroom topic that will include a class overview, shoes and equipment, stretching and strengthening, running form, injury prevention, nutrition and safety. Then we go out to run, and the first class will run/walk a half mile. Over the first seven weeks, we will gradually increase to running 2.5 miles. Then comes graduation night with the class completing one of our local 5K courses, followed by a graduation celebration complete with quality diplomas, a band and healthy refreshments.

    With the class, each participant becomes a member of Salisbury Rowan Runners for a year, gets a training shirt and free entry into our Santa Run 5K in December. Participants also get a training schedule and coaching during and after the class. Cost of the class remains at $65, payable on runsignup.com or at the first class.

    Many of our spring class are still running together and have several out-of-town race weekends planned. Taking the class is a great way to challenge yourself, meet others with similar interests and become active in a running club with many ongoing activities, both with running and otherwise.

    My bike ride on the Katy Trail in Missouri was wonderful and just what I needed to challenge myself. With the hot weather and humidity of that week, I became focused on staying hydrated quickly. Everything seemed a little easier and more tame than my usual bicycle journeys, just as a friend pointed out last week. Some of those have lasted much longer and one topped out at 54 days. Long days on the road always had lots of humor. So did the ride on the Katy Trail. Here is the best humorous memory of that ride for me.

     Many of the small Missouri towns had few stores and most were not open on Sundays and Mondays. According to my trail information, one town had a small hostile and several stores, plus a visitor center. The temperature was hot and at first look, none of the stores were open and no one was moving. I heard some talking and maybe a little music coming from a shaded spot on a hillside. I was nearly out of water and decided to take a chance.

    I walked up a long series of stairs and found an open bar at the top. Inside, I found two operators and a group of three eating lunch with their bike helmets on. I thought that was odd, but some alcohol was involved with lots of laughing and giggling. I asked for bottled water and found it for $2.50 a bottle. I paid and began to leave when the one man in the group of eaters said, “What is that on your hip?” I said, “It’s a radio, AM-FM.” The man said, “Wow, I didn’t think they still existed, how old is it?” I said, “I bought it a couple nights ago on Amazon to listen to while riding.” A 20’s woman, also with him, said, “I can’t remember when I have seen one.” They all giggled, I grabbed my bottles and headed for my bike, never seeing them again which suited me.

    Look for the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run in Landis on September 12. Support the Bible teachers in our local schools. More information is at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

    And finally, I will miss Dolly Parton. She never passed up a chance to make the world better. Good for us all to do!

Gotta’ Run: Fall Beginning Runners Class, some humor and reflection

By David Freeze

Historic Stagville

   Booper and I headed north from Salisbury on August 6^th in hopes of visiting NC Historic Sites at Stagville and Bennet Place. Both are in the Durham area. I read about Stagville and couldn’t wait to hear the story.

     From 1776 to 1865, the Bennehan and Cameron plantations spread across 30,000 acres of land. They had jointly invested in slavery at Stagville. The Camerons inherited complete control in 1847. Hundreds of enslaved people were the backbone of the complex of farms, workshops, mansions and mills. Those enslaved families suffered separation, violence, hard labor and disease. They resisted with varying levels of sabotage, direct action, cultural traditions and freedom seeking. In 1865, 900 people were enslaved on the plantation.

    What we found is the 165 acres that make up the Stagville State Historic Site that is one of the few plantation sites that remain in the nation that focuses on the lives, culture and labors of enslaved African Americans. We made it just in time to take the walking tour with Assistant Site Manager Adarra Blount      

    Dominating the visitor center portion of the tour was the Bennehan House, built between 1787 and 1799. It was a busy house as the center of the plantation complex. We were not able to tour the inside of the home, but heard how the enslaved people, especially those that worked inside, thought the luxury of the house was built on violence, forced labor and the sale of human beings. The house remained as the plantation centerpiece until a much grander mansion was built by the Camerons in 1847.

    A kitchen foundation remains and is located nearby because many of the period homes kept the kitchen in a separate building safely away from the main structure. Nearby too was the foundation of the domestic slave quarters for the Bennehan House. Servants and cooks used their skills to survive, memorizing the etiquette, expectations and personalities of the Bennehan and Cameron families. The cabin was probably a small sanctuary for them away from the trials of serving the owner families. The Camerons referred to enslaved people as family but demanded a spirit of subordination.

    We also visited the Great Barn, built in 1860. A three-story structure, it has withstood the weather since then with only minor damage. Horses and mules were housed here as well as their feed and hay. The barn was bult with pegs, not nails, and is located in the section of the historic site called Horton Grove.

     Also in Horton Grove, in my opinion, is the real centerpiece of today’s historic site and the wonderful tour. A row of slave dwellings from the plantation are well preserved and we toured inside the bottom floor of one of them. Each building housed four families, one to each room. Whether the family had  three or 11 members, they still had only one room. Though the room was large, each room was heated and cooking was done from a fireplace. One of the rooms we saw was furnished, the bare basics of the place for family time after work rest and comfort area. Most notably in the chimney of the first slave quarters building were fingerprints in the bricks, originally molded from local clay. Enslaved residents of this area were field workers. One notable statement concerned the birth of a new family member who immediately became property and were subject anytime to be sent away to other holdings of the Cameron family or even sold eventually.

     The largest of the enslaved quarters is the Hart House. The Harts were a formerly enslaved family that remained on the plantation at the end of the Civil War. In April 1865, when the residents were freed, many stayed and many left. The freed people advocated for land ownership. Through overseers, discriminatory laws and Federal Troops, the Camerons were able to regain control of their land. Many people that stayed, like the Harts, lived through long decades of sharecropping and Jim Crow discrimination. They struggled for civil rights, fair work, equality and land.

    We heard harsh stories of violence and mistreatment, and several intense ones of how specific individuals fought back and occasionally won their freedom. Stagville descendants are organized and now reside around the world. Their story is often heartbreaking and incredibly powerful! This was another wonderful NC Historic Site and well worth your visit. The report on Bennett Place Historic Site will come soon.

     Remember SRR’s Prediction Run on August 29^th at City Park, beginning at 8am. And another of our beginning runners classes is just ahead and set to begin on September 8^th at the Salisbury PD. It is eight weeks of increased running distance and pertinent classes each Tuesday evening that includes subjects like shoes and equipment, stretching and strengthening, running form, nutrition, safety and injury prevention. The rate for the class, a training shirt, membership is SRR and one free race entry remains at $65. You can register at runsignup or at the first class, all of which begin at 6pm.

    Look for these and more upcoming events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Historic Stagville

By David Freeze

Bennett Place Historic Site

   James Bennett had purchased 200 acres of land along Old Hillsborough Road near Durham Station in 1846. The road connected Raleigh, the state capital, to Hillsborough and more. The Bennetts farmed and sold goods to make ends meet, including benefitting from renting enslaved labor to complete skilled jobs. Very popular was enslaved shoemaker Jacob Boreland.  They liked the land along the roadway because of easier sales to passers-by, including travelers.

    James and Nancy Bennett had lost two sons and a son-in-law during the Civil War, two of which died while in the Confederate Army. Life was hard during the war and the family faced economic uncertainty.

     After General Lee’s surrender at Appomattox, many considered the war over, but large Confederate armies still existed. The largest of these armies at the time was led by General Joseph Johnston and was centered around Durham and Raleigh. Many of Lee’s soldiers did not accept the surrender and traveled to North Carolina to join with Johnston. His army had swelled to 90,000 soldiers at the time, yet Johnston believed the cause was lost. Food, clothing and ammunition were all in short supply.

     Union Major General William T. Sherman’s army had continued its path of destruction through the deep south. Johnston hoped to negotiate favorable surrender terms for his remaining soldiers. Sherman and Johnston agreed to meet along Hillsborough Road and the Bennetts were the first homeowners to let the officers and their staffs meet on their property.

       The discussions for surrender were not simple, and the first draft was not accepted by Washington government officials. After the third meeting, all held in the parlor room of the Bennett house, an agreement was reached. Most of the same terms agreed to at Appomattox were finalized. During this time, the Bennett family remained in the kitchen, a separate building as was often the custom during this time period.

      The original chimney still stands but the house was reconstructed, as was the kitchen and smoke house. Benefits of having a separate kitchen also included limiting pests, noise and intense heat from cooking. The smoke house was used to cure and store meat, with about 150 pounds of ham on hand during the negotiations. A small dairy house is also on the property, used for storing butter and milk, as well as other kitchen foods.

    There is also a reconstructed bandstand on the property, simply because it was moved here in the 1920’s to avoid demolition. A Unity Monument was erected in 1923 to represent national healing after the Civil War.

          There is a wonderful yet small museum on site and a short documentary movie that adds more information on the surrender. There is a nice picnic site, and cars have easy access back to I-85.

    The final surrender was signed on April 26, 1865, and about 90,000 southern soldiers laid down their arms. This historic site is well worth visiting and is not far from Stagville, one of my favorites. The Duke Homestead is also nearby, but I have not visited it yet.

     Running and racing are just around the corner, after the late summer break. Next Saturday, on August 29^th, we have the SRR Prediction Run 5K. 8am at the City Park shelter on Lake Drive in Salisbury. No watches, no phones, no timing devices can be worn or carried, and you’ll have to predict your time. The closest to their guess gets a new pair of running shoes from Ralph Baker Shoes and another pair of shoes and other door prizes will also be given. Breakfast will be served too.

    Then on September 12, it is the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run in Landis. This race funds the Bible teachers in the South Rowan area schools and is known for its fast course. It is a fantastic event for walkers and virtual runners too, those who want to support the race but can’t do the distance on race day.

      And just ahead also is the fall Beginning Runners Class, starting September 8^th at 6pm at the Salisbury PD. The class lasts for eight weeks.

    Look for all these events and more at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Bennett Place Historic Site

By David Freeze

Bible Teacher’s 5K and more

   I caught up with Lynn Furr, treasurer for the South Rowan Bible Teachers Association and race director of the Fifth Annual Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run, set for Landis on September 12^th. She said, “Our association has only one purpose, to fund Bible teachers for those schools in the South Rowan area who want one. Currently we are supporting three teachers who work in five schools, teaching the history of the Holy Bible and with a great following. More schools have inquired about teachers.”

   Furr continued, “If you agree that it is important to teach the Bible in schools, please support our 5K and Fun Run. We are going to have a great time on race day. Since Rowan County has so many runners and almost everyone can be walkers, we’d be super happy to have you run or walk the race. The course is flat, without a real hill and has had fast times and many PR’s. Regardless of that, this is the perfect time to walk your first ever 5K or even run your first. All ages can enter the half mile fun run. There is no pressure to complete the course by a certain time. We want all participants to have fun, whether they are chasing a personal record, or doing the event for the first time or specifically to support the Bible teacher program.”

    The event also has openings for virtual runners, those who don’t actually come to run or walk, but they want to get the shirt and support the event. SRBTA loves virtual runners! Virtual runners already sign up for other races, all the while knowing that they can’t attend. Furr said, “I am fully in charge of commemorative race shirts, and you better believe that any virtual runner will be appreciated and will get their requested shirt size.”

   The race needs volunteers! To start with, the 31 course monitors who will point the runners in the right direction and help with traffic. The Town of Landis is a major partner for the race and will handle street closings, but volunteers are important too.

   Furr said, “We will have some fun with Andy and Barney of Andy Griffith show fame. Every runner, walker and volunteer will receive ice cream after the race, and we’ve got great overall and age group awards from the Trophy House and I’m working on door prizes. Through our fundraisers, we need to raise about $225,000 annually to keep Bible teachers in our schools. And we can still add sponsors and donations are accepted anytime, so please call or text me at 704-724-2819.”

     Also don’t forget SRR’s annual Prediction Run 5K on August 29^th. Free to all SRR members, you can become one by joining for $30 before race day at runsignup.com or at the event. Great prizes, including two new pairs of running shoes, one for the winner and another as a door prize, and much more will highlight the event.

     And finally, I have decided to get back on the bike for a summer trip. As many of you know, I broke my back in a farming accident in May 2024. It took many months of prayers and Dr. Eline and Novant Health’s work to put my back together again. A trip was planned for 2024, a longer trip than this one will be. I didn’t get to take it, but I answer questions constantly about those magical bicycle rides around our great country since 2013. All 50 states have been visited by my bike on solo trips, most of them multiple times.

       There were several things on my checklist to do again after the broken back. One was the May 2025’s Special Olympics Torch Run and another was the team run across 178 miles of Nevada and California mountains. Both of those were completed successfully, so now I want to add another ride.

       I plan to drive to Machens, Missouri and ride largely on the Katy Trail from Machens to Clinton on the most famous and longest rail trail in the country. I have been hearing about the Katy Trail since I began riding when one rider who was also going cross country, left the Transamerica route to ride the Katy. The Katy has three larger towns and numerous small ones, some with no services. The Missouri River, the only major river that I have only crossed but never seen much of, will be the highlight. I do love the big rivers! The course is loaded with history, at least one that is a big mystery with a Salisbury connection. I’m hoping for about 550-600 miles total.

     The Post will again be covering my journey, and it wouldn’t seem right to do it any other way. Post readers have ridden along through the highs and lows of three cross country trips and just about every major route north and south, even all the way to Alaska. It will be my pleasure to ride with you again!

    Look for the Run for the Word 5K and Fun Run and the Prediction Run, and many more, at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Bible Teacher’s 5K and more

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

By David Freeze

Horne Creek Living Historical Farm Site

   On October 17, 1987, the Horne Creek Living Historical Farm was officially designated as a State Historic Site. On Friday, July 24^th, Booper and I headed north to visit the farm and next-door Pilot Mountain State Park.

    In 1900, there were 224,637 farms in NC, and 87% of people farmed. Today, less than 2% of North Carolinians farm. Concerns over the loss of our agricultural heritage led to the creation of the Horne Creek Living Historical Farm.

    Construction on the centerpiece farmhouse was begun by Thomas Hauser in 1875 or 1876, just [prior to his marriage to Charlotte Kreeger. The house is two-story, with a center hall and is built of logs, then covered by clapboarding (wooden weatherboards). The couple originally lived in the rear of the house as newlyweds, then added on the front of the house as the family grew. The house had four fireplaces, and the foundation of the house was available stone. The house was first painted around the turn of the century, when the exterior was remodeled with shutters, factory porch posts and banisters and connected the wellhouse to the structure. All this gave the house a more Victorian look. While there, my granddaughter retrieved a bucket of water from the 50 feet deep indoor well, all with the help of Historic Site Manager Lisa Turney. Turney made sure to tell Booper about the work duties the one small girl in the family had.

     Over two generations, 24 children lived in the house and most of them were born in it. Thomas and Charlotte had 12 of those kids, all but one were boys. The family congregated in the parents’ bedroom for conversations about the day, their work, school and their community.  

    Several generations of Hauser family farmed the land from 1830 until 1953. The family owned the land until it was sold in 1970 to become part of the Yadkin River Section of Pilot Mountain State Park. In its heyday, the Hauser farm like most of their neighbors depended on crops which had long been grown in the Piedmont—corn, wheat, oats, sorghum and flax. They also raised hogs, sheep, cattle and fowl as important food sources. They eventually added tobacco. The farm increased in size to 450 acres by 1900.

     The Hauser children and descendants provided information about the family and farm life. A wonderful quote came from Jeff Hauser. He said, “There’s ways of doing things if you have to. People talk about hard times now, they ought to go back a few times (generations). I mean you can do without a whole lot. If I had to, I could survive on a tenth of what I live on. And live good too. If you think about it, we were practically self-supporting. Of course we had to buy salt, coffee and sugar. And lamp oil. Those are the four main ingredients we had to have. With them, we ate like kings.”

     Martha Hauser Moser said, “I remember when we made eighteen pies. We had a pie shelf-I mean a pie bench. We made that many on a weekend and every one’d be gone.”

    The farm has a visitor center, a tobacco curing barn, sorghum mill, tobacco packhouse, cannery site, icehouse site, fruit house, smokehouse, dry house (for dehydrating foods like apples), chicken lot, wood lot, woodshed, outhouse, a double crib barn, cemetery and plenty of animals.

    The house is furnished in period style and is fascinating. At one time, four adults and up to 12 kids lived in the house, although some of the older boys left the farm as adults.

     Another family, the Sawyers, owned part of the land that now forms the historic site. The Sawyers were Black and although neither them nor the Hausers were famous for any reason, both families were representative of thousands of other families across the state at the turn of the 20^th century. They were common people who left an uncommonly rich legacy for our state. Plans call for recreating at least part of the Sawyer homesite in the future.

     Also on the property is the Southern Heritage Apple Orchard, established in 1997 and dedicated to preserving old apple varieties. More than 850 trees planted preserve 425 different southern apple varieties which were on the brink of extinction. Two trees are planted for each variety, one a free-standing semi-dwarf tree up to 12 feet tall and the other is a dwarf tree. The dwarf trees are about six feet and are on a supporting wire system called “espalier.”

    The Horne Creek Historical Farm is a “Don’t Miss” in my opinion! We saw it in the drizzle and light rain and had the special benefit of having Historic Site Manager Lisa Turney as the tour guide. I missed it on the day about two years ago when I explored Pilot Mountain because the farm is closed, just like most NC Historic Sites, on Sunday and Monday. The biggest day of the year at Horne Creek is set for October 17^th with the 33^rd Annual Cornshucking Frolic event.

    The land around the farm is protected by the state park acreage, so modern development cannot encroach on it. The farm is less than seven miles from U.S. 52 and nearby towns of Pilot Mountain and King are within 25 miles of the farm. Just over 70 minutes’ drive from Salisbury, combine the farm and the state park for a spectacular and low-cost day of fun!

Gotta’ Run: Horne Creek Living Historical Farm Site

By David Freeze

A Visit to Reed Gold Mine

   In 1799, 12- year-old Conrad Reed found a 17-pound gold nugget in Little Meadow Creek on his family’s farm. Nobody knew what it was, and it remained a door stop for three years in the house of his father, John Reed. This was the first documented gold discovery in the United States. Once identified, the family sold the gold nugget for $3,50, about the same as a laborer would earn in a month on their farm. Valued at $3,500, John Reed realized his mistake and went looking for more.

     North Carolina led the nation in gold production as the fever spread to many neighboring counties and then other southern states. During peak years, gold mining was second only to farming for income in North Carolina.

     My granddaughter and I visited another North Carolina Historic Site at today’s Reed Gold Mine off Highway 200 near Midland on Friday, July 17^th. The day was hot, but I knew that we would likely tour the mine and be well underground where temperatures would be more comfortable. The visitor center is free with numerous exhibits concerning mining techniques and the history of mining in general.

   We first tried our hand at gold panning. Children under eight can’t have their own pan for some reason, but Booper and I agreed to share the $5 pan about half filled with dirt. I am a frequent viewer of Gold Rush on Discovery where the mine owners occasionally do their own panning when in hopes of finding profitable ground. Booper took over the pan mostly and did a good job of shaking it, dumping out water and getting more, as she tried to shake the heavier gold to the bottom of the pan. We threw rocks bigger than a thumbnail back into the sluice and gradually got the pan down to the small rocks and sand. None of ours were gold, which we were assured can easily be seen in the pans when successful.

    Next came a look around the gift shop and we took time to watch a nine-minute orientation film. Then we were off to the mine tour itself. In the mid-90s and very humid on the trail, the tour leader led about 25 people to the site where Conrad Reed’s gold nugget was found. Just a small and unimposing quiet creek, still I heard one man say, “Can we go over and pan in the creek?” He was told, “No, not today!”

    We walked past some old mining equipment and stopped just before the mine entrance for some instructions which included the need to stay together and to keep an eye out for bats. The mine itself was designated a NC Historic Site in 1977. As we entered the mine, almost immediately the air temperature dropped to 60-65 degrees, a level of coolness that was at first uncomfortable but quickly became very present.

   Immediately, we saw a bat and the kids in the group were amazed as it wiggled while hanging above us in a mine shaft. The old shafts here were short and often not flat. We saw the openings braced with wood and heard how mining went on almost every day in these shafts from the 1830s. Miners were free to keep their gold once they paid Reed a royalty on what was found. The guide speculated that probably as much gold was stolen as was reported to the Reed family. We also learned that we were only about 50 feet underground and mine shafts occasionally hit tree roots.

    Placer mining, the method of extracting gold from the loose sediments of creek or stream beds, was successful at Reed Gold Mine, but the underground shaft mining never proved profitable long term. Miners underground followed quartz veins and tried to extract gold from those veins.

    The largest nugget ever found at Reed Gold Mine was 28 pounds and caused controversy. All the miners working together usually shared profits equally, but in this case, one of the regular miners was sick and sent his son to fill in. With the exceptional payout of this large nugget, a lawsuit developed over whether the young boy should share equally with the experienced miners. The lawsuit took years until the boy’s family eventually did share in the proceeds.

    In 1966, Reed Gold Mine was also designated a National Historic Landmark. There are several walking trails around the property, which now includes 70 acres. The Reed family sold the mine to the Kelly family in the early 1900’s, but mining eventually played out and the site was closed. In 1971, the Kelly family sold the rest of the 760 acres but donated 70 to the historic Reed Gold Mine project.

    More NC Historic Sites are ahead. Upcoming races and our fall beginning runners class have current information available at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org And who knows, there might just be a bike ride ahead too!

Gotta’ Run: A visit to Reed Gold Mine

By David Freeze

Summer Expectations including NC Historical Sites

  After this weekend, our Rowan County running events are on hiatus until August 29^th, and that one is a different sort of event with the word racing not likely to be uttered once in association. The SRR Prediction 5K must be done without watches or any other time, pace or distance device. Most people run or walk it at a reduced pace, trying to calculate in their head how to be closest to their predicted goal.

    As I have done in the past, summer remains a good time to travel. My long-distance cycling has always been done in the summer and so have many of my own personal travel adventures. Included in these travels have so far been all 100 NC county seats and all state parks in NC. Both were tremendous fun and I learned to love my state even more. Another NC adventure was the run/walk across the state from Murphy to Manteo.

    The next challenge on the horizon is continuing my visits to all the currently open North Carolina Historic Sites. Some I have already visited were often due to their proximity to state parks. Here is the short list of those already checked off the list. There are 27 NC Historic Sites, but at present two are not open. Those visited and reported on previously in the Post include–

The CSS Neuse Memorial, a Civil War ironclad near Kinston

Fort Fisher, the coastal Civil War fort near Kure Beach

Roanoke Island Festival Park in Manteo

Somerset Place, an antebellum plantation near Creswell.

The Thomas Wolfe Memorial house in Asheville

The NC Transportation Museum in Spencer.

Historic Bath and Historic Edenton. 

   That leaves 19 to visit, minus the two currently not open including at the House in the Horseshoe, an American Revolution home near Sanford, and Shallow Ford, used to cross the Yadkin River near Lewisville. Shallow Ford is a new project and set to open later this year.

   The first of the remaining 17 sites is Fort Dobbs, which my granddaughter and I visited on Wednesday, 7/15. In 2026, Fort Dobbs opened a new, purpose-built visitor center to serve the public. At nearly 3,700 square feet, the new facility is more than five times larger than the site’s previous visitor center, which was housed in a 1940s log cabin. The new center has a contemporary exhibit gallery, modern restrooms, and paved parking, and has an expanded gift shop, lobby area, and office spaces for staff.

   Fort Dobbs was the only permanent frontier provincial fort in the colony of North Carolina. Construction began in late 1755 and was completed one year later.  It served as the military headquarters for a frontier company (approximately fifty men) as well as a safe-haven for settlers during what was called the French and Indian War.

    The fort was attacked on the night of February 27, 1760, when more than sixty Cherokees were repelled. The garrison suffered two men wounded, as well as having one colonial boy killed. One of the wounded soldiers died a month later. The Cherokee were reported to have lost 10-12 men killed and wounded. Local settlers who had camped near the fort were taken inside until the Cherokee left the area.

   By the end of 1761, the British had essentially won the war and only thirty troops remained at the fort. Colonial leaders disbanded the troops and removed all the supplies of the garrison as settlement moved far west of the fort. The neglected fort was in ruins by 1766 and abandoned.

  Rebuilding the fort lasted from 2016 to 2019. An interesting documentary of the construction plays continually in the visitor center and describes how                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        the project was based on historical knowledge of the fort. It was built of huge white oak logs, at least 600 of them, and the sawing was done on site. The first floor has 18-inch thick walls while                                                                                                                                   the second floor walls are twelve inches thick with the third floor dropping to 6 inches thick. Each floor has 100 firing ports.                                                                                                                                              

    Part of the original defensive ditch remains, a place where riflemen could lie behind a dirt mound and fire at attackers. Called the Bend at Fourth Creek, the fort’s location is on top of a hill and the ten square miles surrounding the fort were home to about 35 settler families which in 1754 was considered the edge of civilization.

   Inside the rebuilt fort, soldier’s living and fighting quarters are tight with two to a bed for enlisted men and officers having their own bed. Sleeping soldiers used a bedpan for overnight bathroom needs, with the pans being emptied first thing by the lowest ranking enlisted men. Six men formed a mess and were responsible for making their own meals. The nearest food supply point was in Salisbury, about 50 miles away. Weapons were stacked and ready at all times. Two small cannons are mounted in windows. Soldiers’ jackets and beds were available to try on or lie upon.

   The small cabin, built in the 1940’s by the Daughters of the American Revolution, was once the visitor center. The grounds are well-kept, and several major events happen each year. An America250 event is set for November 14^th with re-enactors and living history demonstrations.

     Fort Dobbs Historical Site was outstanding and has me excited for more visits ahead It is located close to NC 21 and I-40!

    Look for news on local running and walking events at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: Summer expectations including NC Historical Sites